Chapter #1117

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                       +      THE ADVENTURERS      +
                         +                       +
                           +      Epic VI      +
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+     Many of the locations, non-player characters, spells, and other     +
+   terms used in these stories are the property of Wizards of the Coast  +
+   which has in no way endorsed or authorized their use.  Any such       +
+   property contained within these stories are not representative of     +
+   Wizards of the Coast in any fashion.                                  +
+     The player characters depicted in these stories are copyright       +
+   1991-2022 by Thomas A. Miller.  Any resemblance to any persons        +
+   or characters either real or fictional is utterly coincidental.       +
+   Copying and/or distribution of these stories is permissible under     +
+   the sole condition that no money is made in the process.  In that     +
+   case, I hope you enjoy them!                                          +
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
+   Belphanior     18th/18th/18th level elven fighter/wizard/thief        +
+   Hope           16th level female human wizard                         +
+     Poulos        8th level human warrior                               +
+   Irina          14th/7th level female human priestess/warrior          +
+   Neera          12th level female human wizard (sage/astrologer)       +
+     Arusha        6th level human female wizard/alchemist               +
+     Judhon        7th level gnomish illusionist                         +
+   Otto           12th/14th level dwarven fighter/thief                  +
+   Paige          13th level human female warrior                        +
+   Razor Charlie  12th level human fighter                               +
+   Skektek        14th level human wizard                                +
+   Ys             14th level reptilian fighter                           +
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+   Date:          4/20/586 C.Y. (Common Year)                            +
+   Time:          midday                                                 +
+   Place:         the Free City of Greyhawk                              +
+   Climate:       pleasant                                               +
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+   "How do we inspire ourselves to greatness when nothing less will do?" +
+                  - from _Invictus_                                      +
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                   MCXVII.  Genesis





  Over the last four days, Belphanior has sought the answers he needs via
two different sources, and also visited a number of old acquaintances to
see how they fared after the wars that spanned the continent.  It is now
time to consider everything that he has recently discovered...and is about
to.

Belphanior:  -and so, to recap it all...Mongo will be a big part of any
  effort to retake Sterich, and then maybe Geoff, from the humanoids and
  giants that now rule those lands.  Halbarad is currently in Furyondy,
  helping them prepare for the next move against Iuz, whatever it may be.
  Rillen and Songa are doing their part to help strengthen the alliance
  between Fruzti and Ratik.  Arnold is pledged to the Fruzti as well; the
  common enemy in the last few cases is Iuz.  Same for Peyote and Daffodil
  amidst the Vesve Forest...and Nenya and Deryck's Gedlands, in the shadow
  of Greyhawk.
Otto:  (nods)  It sure would make things a lot simpler if we found out
  that Iuz was the one responsible for the plunder of the vault.
Belphanior:  It would indeed.  (he sighs)  As soon as Irina gets here, we
  will see what she learned.
Skektek:  (glances at Ys, who is busy eating an entire roasted duck)
Ys:  (grins toothily)
Paige:  (absentmindedly cleaning her fingernails with a small but sharp
  knife)
Arusha:  (passing the time with her nose buried in some old tome)
Razor Charlie:  (wondering how anyone can possibly read so much)

  They were gathered in the private dining room within the Green Dragon
Inn, which the elf figured was as safe as anywhere they could meet in the
Free City.  Peldor had seen to it that they were undisturbed, at one point
even having to usher Bosco out of the room (a second time).  Belphanior
had a lot on his mind after visiting all of his old adventuring companions
across the world.  Most notably, it did seem that there was one name that
kept coming up as responsible for everyone's problems.  His thoughts about
that one, and viable methods of dealing with him, were interrupted by the
arrival of Irina.  Belphanior could have talked to her last night, but he
had wanted to respect her privacy, and besides, he was in no real hurry to
learn the identity of whoever had plundered the vault and driven Neera and
the other two away.  It had been years since those events, so an extra day
now would make no difference.

Belphanior:  Irina.  I'm glad you're here.  Please take a seat.
Irina:  (does so)
Belphanior:  Let's get right to it.  Were you able to find our culprit?
Irina:  I was, though of course the knowledge was granted by Our Lady of
  Fate, Istus herself...through my superior, and then on to me.
Belphanior:  (nods)  Of course.  (he eyes her expectantly)
Irina:  (sighs)  The one who somehow detected the treasure hoard kept in
  the underground vault, ventured there almost five years ago, defeated
  its magical wards, and plundered everything that was left after Neera,
  Arusha, and Judhon fled...was none other than Rary of Ket.
Belphanior:  (blinks)  Whoa.
Otto:  (whistles)
Skektek:  (turns to Razor Charlie, frowning)
Razor Charlie:  It wasn't Iuz.  Pay up.
Skektek:  Well, shit.
Ys:  Heh.
Hope:  (shaking her head)  This just got a lot more difficult.
Paige:  (confused)  I don't understand...what's the big deal?  Who's Rary
  of Ket?
Neera:  (sighs)  Rary, formerly of the Circle of Eight, is one of the most
  powerful and experienced archmagi in the world.  It was he who betrayed
  everyone on the day of the great signing, slew two of the Circle, then
  fled to the Bright Desert - where he remains in hiding to this day, if
  the rumors are to be believed.
Paige:  (vaguely remembers this from the briefing Kronos gave a week ago)
  Oh.  That guy.
Neera:  (nods)  A wizard of his caliber is not to be taken lightly.  (she
  turns to Belphanior)  But at least we know the identity of our culprit.
Belphanior:  Which opens up a lot of possibilities for us.  Not only do we
  know where he is, but also it shouldn't be difficult to get backing and
  maybe even some help...to do what we're going to do anyway.
Irina:  Which is what, exactly?
Belphanior:  We're going to carefully and methodically learn everything
  there is to know about him, figure out where he is, and then go there
  and wipe him from the face of the earth.
Skektek:  (grinning, for the first time in a while)  Yeahhhhh.
Neera:  What about the others who might have plans to deal with him...the
  Circle of Eight, perhaps?
Belphanior:  (annoyed)  The Circle of Eight?  They've had-  (he does some
  quick mental math)  -two years to deal with Rary.  Since they haven't
  seen fit to do anything in all that time, I'll step in now and give it
  a try.  (he stands, addressing his team)  I know you've already had a
  few days to rest and relax and resupply.  Keep doing those things - by
  which I mean do whatever you need to do to be as ready as possible when
  the time comes.  Rations, bolts, knives, spells, poisons...we'll need
  them all.
Otto:  What about you?
Belphanior:  In the meantime, I'm going to confer with a couple of groups
  of people who might be able to help us with this - or at least have some
  useful information that we can use to increase our odds of success.

  The elf didn't waste any time.  By that afternoon, he and Neera were in
a hastily-convened meeting with a handful of other powerful wizards.  This
group had gathered in a special chamber within Parekh's home, one that had
previously been used for other meetings such as this.  The powerfully-
enchanted room was protected against any and all scrying, as well as any
magical intrusion not specifically granted by Parekh.
  While Neera wasn't an archmage like the others, Belphanior had brought
her along because it was easier to have her hear the discussion directly
and be involved in the planning now, as opposed to having to explain it
all to her later.  It was a matter of efficiency, plain and simple.  She
listened and waited as the elf finished summarizing the situation to the
others present - Parekh, Pallin, Alindyar, and Lyra.

Belphanior:  -and there you have it.
Alindyar:  Rary.  This...complicates things.
Belphanior:  Why?
Lyra:  Aside from the fact that we've worked with him in the past, more
  than once?
Alindyar:  He aided in the effort to rescue Lyra from Zara.  And he sent
  our group to that strange otherworldly island, where the colossal ape
  dwelt.  Not to mention his involvement in the planning of the attack on
  the fortress of Xusia.
Lyra:  We have called him friend and ally until now.  (she frowns)  Hell,
  the man came to my one-hundredth birthday party.
Alindyar:  At any rate, Rary is often considered to be the most learned
  and powerful of the Circle of Eight.  Which also makes him the most
  dangerous.
Parekh:  (makes a face, clearly annoyed)  The Circle of Eight.
Belphanior:  Eh?  What's wrong?
Parekh:  While I respect that bunch, and their abilities...I have always
  been more than a little perturbed that their ranks remained closed.  It
  seems to be little more than an old mens' club.
Belphanior:  They're not all old men, and some of them are actually good,
  decent people who we've worked with in the past.
Parekh:  (shrugs)  Be that as it may, the Circle have repeatedly failed to
  consider me for membership over the years.  Likewise Pallin, and Wu, and
  the others.  (she frowns)  Which is their loss, to be sure.
Alindyar:  (ESPing to Lyra)  She has a point.  The Circle of Eight, while
  in existence for at least the last fifteen years, did not have a female
  member until about five years ago.  Nor a non-human member until last
  year.  Mordenkainen has chosen his allies rather carefully.
Lyra:  (ESPing to Alindyar)  Her second point is also true, given that she
  has moved on to form her own group of wizards, the one that you are now
  a member of.
Alindyar:  (ESPing to Lyra)  True.
Lyra:  (ESPing to Alindyar)  I wonder if Belphanior is aware of the full
  membership of that cabal.
Alindyar:  (ESPing to Lyra)  He most certainly has an idea, but it seems
  likely that he has deduced everything by now.
Belphanior:  So my question to you is...aside from my own desire to get my
  treasure back and make Rary pay for stealing it, does this mission have
  enough value that any of you want to participate?  I figure I can get
  some of the Circle of Eight on board, but I'd rather work outside their
  methods and restrictions if possible.  (he holds up both hands to quiet
  multiple people who suddenly want to say something)  Patience.  Hear me
  out.  I have a plan, one far greater than just dealing with Rary.
Kronos:  (suddenly appears at the table)  Then you should not discuss it
  without me.
Belphanior:  (does a double-take)
Neera:  I guess this chamber isn't as secure as we thought.
Parekh:  It is, by default.  I can allow certain friends and allies to
  come and go, if I wish it.
Belphanior:  (not missing a beat)  Well, that makes sense.
Kronos:  (regards the elf with his red eyes)  What does _not_ make sense
  is you asking me for scrying help to find your culprit, when you already
  gained that knowledge by other means.  The simple question here would be
  why you wasted my time and effort.
Belphanior:  The simple answer is that I trust your magic and methods more
  than those of a temple of Istus which is relatively new to me.  You were
  never the backup plan.  I wasn't even sure if I'd learn anything from
  Irina and her temple.  I actually asked you first; having Istus confirm
  things independently was an idea I came up with afterward.
Kronos:  (ponders this)  I...see.

  Belphanior folded his arms confidently, while knowing all the while that
the words he'd just uttered weren't entirely accurate.  The truth was, he
trusted neither party more than the other, and thus employed both at the
same time in order to better his chances of getting an answer.  And he was
fairly certain that if Istus was watching right now, that goddess would
not only know the truth but understand why he used the words he had, with
Kronos.
  The elf abruptly stood up, facing the others assembled at the ancient
wooden table in the uniquely-protected chamber, within the home of one of
the most powerful yet least known wizards in the Flanaess.  He paused for
a moment before launching into a speech he'd only vaguely rehearsed and
planned prior to this moment.

Belphanior:  And now I'm going to take things a step further - a big step
  further - and challenge all of you to think about some things.  Consider
  the facts.  One, it's probable that we - all of us, despite our power
  and our abilities, not to mention the Crimson Blades - were manipulated
  into being elsewhere for the leadup to the Greyhawk Wars, and the Wars
  themselves.  Two, the Circle of Eight was similarly taken off the board,
  more or less, for these events - which means they were either incompetent
  enough to let that happen, or they didn't care that much to begin with.
  (he continues counting on his fingers, extending more as he goes)  And
  three, as a result of the first two things, tens of thousands of people
  died, many more were displaced, entire kingdoms fell, and much ground
  was gained by those who will inevitably continue to kill and destroy
  as they seek to expand their power.  (he pauses)  I just spent the last
  few days traveling around the world and talking to a number of trusted
  friends, all of who lived and fought through all of this and made clear
  just how much blood has been spilt, how much suffering there has been.
  I keep hearing the same names...Rary, who betrayed his longtime friends
  and destroyed a large portion of Greyhawk...Iuz, who deceived all four
  of the barbarian kingdoms and caused widespread casualties, just to make
  a distraction while he moved to strike at greater foes...and to a lesser
  extent the Overking of Aerdy and the Scarlet Brotherhood, both of whom
  caused their share of trouble in other parts of the world.

  The elf looked around the room, seeing that he had everyone's attention
before he continued talking, working his way toward the masterstroke.

Belphanior:  There are good kingdoms out there, but they can only do the
  things that kingdoms can do.  Someone has to do _more_...someone has to
  look at the entire portrait rather than just one small piece of it at a
  time, or only the piece they care about.  I say that a small group of
  extremely powerful and motivated individuals is the best answer for this
  purpose.  We all know that such groups have walked the Flanaess in times
  past...the Company of Seven, the Slayers of Feuerhauch, and many others.
  But those are long-gone or disbanded.  And those few that are, or were,
  still active were no help.  The Crimson Blades did nothing to prevent
  any of this from happening; you'd have thought they would have at least
  gotten involved, but they didn't...and now they're gone.  The Circle of
  Eight didn't help, either, at least not as a unified group; whether by
  choice or due to having allowed themselves to be made irrelevant.  (he
  grimaces)  I neither know nor care.  (he shifts his gaze from person to
  person, amongst the small group of wizards)  Friends and companions, I
  propose that we now unify ourselves into a new alliance, one that has
  the power and the desire to bring about real change in the world.  (he
  looks at Alindyar and Lyra)  With old friends.  (he turns to Pallin)
  And newer ones.  (he then nods to Kronos)  And also ones who have been
  quiet for far too long.  The alliance I am suggesting would not be some
  hidden cabal-  (he glances at Parekh)  -but rather an open partnership,
  known to all as a potent and serious force that can and will make things
  better for people.  It would be diverse as well - women, elves, humans,
  young, old...whatever the nature of those who wish to form it.  (he
  gestures with a hand)  I want all of you - all of us.  I want Wu, and I
  want Dexitheseus, and also Cespedes.  No more hiding in the background,
  no more being manipulated by others, no more playing second fiddle to
  the Circle of Eight or any other coalition that isn't actively, openly
  working to solve problems and defeat those who would plunge the lands of
  Oerth into darkness and despair.  (he raises a fist)  First we take out
  Rary and get the magical arsenal back...then we use it - as well as the
  entirety of the massive fortune at my disposal - to arm and equip allies
  and build a stronghold, and then start dealing with the problems of the
  world, one by one...until they are past history, and peace once again
  reigns supreme in the Flanaess.  (he regards the others)  I am asking
  you to join together with me - with each other - and work to make a sane
  world.  What say you?





next:       gathering intel
www:        http://www.peldor.com/download.html
homepage:   http://www.peldor.com/
email:      tmiller@peldor.com
released:   7/22/2022
notes:      So this idea has been floating around in my head for a long
  time, and somewhere I even have a rough draft of a long-ago episode in
  which it's _Parekh_ who poses this idea to _Belphanior_ (granted, part
  of the pitch was that he'd be the enforcer, not an equal co-ruler).  I
  started this story wondering how I'd deal with the idea of Belphanior
  going up against Rary, who is one of the most powerful wizards around.
  I wasn't worried about the actual execution of the idea - after all,
  in the past I've pulled off other similarly crazy adventure ideas - but
  writing the initial connective material was a bit daunting.
    And then the old ideas about a new alliance of archmagi floated to
  the top of the vast and troubled lake that is my mind.  And it all just
  came together.  I always knew that somehow, someday the Cabal would get
  refocused and repurposed to this...but it looks like it's happening now.
  And you can say you were there at the very beginning!

    Random IT babbling:  when I was writing the part about the special
  room in Parekh's home, where allowed visitors could magically arrive,
  I couldn't help but think of a firewall set initially to deny all, but
  you could add allowed hosts/traffic.
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